WELLAND - A Welland Minor Hockey Association graduate who was drafted with Mario Lemieux by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft is dead at age 45.

Roger Belanger died in his home shortly after noon Friday from an apparent heart attack suffered after he spent the morning playing pickup hockey at Welland Arena.

Chris Belanger said in a YouTube tribute that his older brother left the ice early complaining of chest pains and on his way home asked a neighbour for two Aspirins.

"The chest pains were a lot worse, but that's just how strong and tough he was," an emotional Chris Belanger said in an eight-minute video that focused on his brother's impact on his family and friends, not on his professional hockey career.

"He was a great big brother," Chris Belanger said. "He helped a lot of people, and a lot of people cared about him.

"I feel so empty knowing that I can't hug him and enjoy special holidays with him."

Mr. Belanger also went "skating with the guys" the day before he died and, while the activity may have contributed to his death, Chris Belanger was happy his older brother spent the last day of his life doing something he enjoyed.

"I'm kind of glad he went happy. He was happy to be back on the ice, even though that's what killed him. I'm hoping he didn't suffer too much."

Before heading to the rink, Mr. Belanger stopped by his parents' home, where he also caught up with his younger brother and enjoyed a "huge mug of coffee" their father made.

Chris Belanger, fighting back tears in the loving tribute, recalled that the "day started out great for his brother."

"He was up early, he was excited to play hockey. Rog just looked happy and healthy."

The video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN_0Cv7Aq4c closes with Chris Belanger urging people to "make an effort to be nice" to others and "to set little petty things aside."

"Pride means nothing if it gets in the way of love."

Injuries limited the St. Catharines native to 44 games in his NHL career. Roger Belanger, the second of three players selected by the Penguins in the 1984 draft, scored three goals and added five assists patrolling the right wing for the Penguins during the 1984-85 season.

He also played one and a half seasons in the American Hockey League with the Baltimore Slipjacks before ending his pro hockey career in 1987-88 when he was in the International Hockey League with the Muskegon, Mich., Lumberjacks.

Details of funeral arrangements were not immediately available at press time.